LABOUR has selected a Beverley councillor, Margaret Pinder, to stand as its parliamentary candidate for Beverley and Holderness for the next General Election to be held on Thursday 7th May 2015.
In a statement announcing Margaret Pinder’s selection, Beverley and Holderness Constituency Labour Party, said:
One of only a handful of women ever to serve as Mayor of Beverley, Margaret Pinder grew up in the East Riding, attending Wolfreton Comprehensive School before going on to study English and Modern languages at Cambridge after which she qualified as a solicitor.
“The East Riding is a unique and special place,” says Margaret. “I’ve travelled and lived all over the world, but this has always been home to me. Now I’m proud to think I have this opportunity to serve the area and the people here.”
Working as a consultant in social housing and having just earned an LLM in Public Procurement Law and Policy, she has especial insight into some of the issues facing the region in terms of the need for affordable homes and managing public spending. Her parents are retired teachers and Margaret has also taught here and at Harvard in the USA which makes education a priority issue for her.
In 2011 she stood for East Riding Council in St Mary’s ward where, in a hard fought campaign, she more than doubled the Labour vote driving it up from fourth to second place.
“I believe I can win Beverley and Holderness for Labour,” she announced at her selection. ” The electorate is tired of this coalition and the damage it is doing to the country.
“Local people are worried about the NHS, bad choices being made about local development both in Beverley and across East Yorkshire, and environmental issues such as flood defences and local energy.
“The Conservatives want to think this is a safe seat. I’m putting them on notice – it’s not safe anymore.”
Local Holderness Labour Party spokesman, Steve Gallant, said:
“We certainly aim to give Graham Stuart a strong challenge and we have a very strong local candidate in Margaret. You’ll certainly be hearing from her as she intends to run a very visible campaign throughout the constituency between now and next May.”
